The Abyssinian Crisis 1935-1936
The Abyssinian Crisis 1935-1936
The Abyssinian Crisis was the final, fatal blow to the League of Nations' credibility. When Italy, a permanent member of the League Council, invaded the independent African nation of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia), the League's failure to stop the aggression proved once and for all that collective security was dead.
Background
Benito Mussolini, Italy's fascist dictator since 1922, wanted to build a new Roman Empire:
- Italy already controlled Eritrea and Italian Somaliland, which bordered Abyssinia.
- In 1896, Italy had suffered a humiliating defeat by Abyssinian forces at the Battle of Adwa. Mussolini wanted revenge.
- Abyssinia was one of only two independent African nations (the other was Liberia). It was rich in resources and would link Italy's existing colonies.
- Mussolini had observed the League's failure over Manchuria and concluded he could act with impunity.
- The Wal Wal incident (December 1934) — a clash between Italian and Abyssinian forces at a disputed border post — gave Mussolini his pretext.
The Invasion
- 3 October 1935 — Italy invaded Abyssinia with a force of 400,000 troops, supported by tanks, aircraft, and poison gas (mustard gas) — against an army that was largely equipped with spears and outdated rifles.
- The Italian forces committed atrocities: bombing Red Cross hospitals, using poison gas on soldiers and civilians, and massacring prisoners.
- Abyssinian Emperor Haile Selassie appealed to the League of Nations in a famous and emotional speech (June 1936): "It is us today. It will be you tomorrow."
- By May 1936, Italy had conquered Abyssinia. Mussolini declared it part of Italian East Africa and proclaimed King Victor Emmanuel III as Emperor.
The League's Response
The League condemned Italy and imposed economic sanctions in November 1935, but they were fatally limited:
- Sanctions banned the sale of arms, rubber, and certain metals to Italy.
- Sanctions did NOT include oil, coal, iron, or steel — the resources Italy needed most for its war effort. Banning oil was discussed but never implemented because:
- Britain and France feared driving Mussolini into an alliance with Hitler
- The USA (not a League member) would not cooperate with sanctions and could simply sell oil to Italy
- The Suez Canal (controlled by Britain) remained open to Italian shipping, allowing supplies to reach Italian forces in East Africa.
The Hoare-Laval Pact (December 1935)
- British Foreign Secretary Samuel Hoare and French Prime Minister Pierre Laval secretly agreed to give Mussolini two-thirds of Abyssinia in exchange for ending the war.
- When the pact was leaked to the press, there was public outrage in Britain and France. Both Hoare and Laval were forced to resign.
- The pact showed that Britain and France were willing to betray a fellow League member to keep Mussolini happy — completely undermining the principle of collective security.
Why Did the League Fail?
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| Britain and France's self-interest | They wanted Italy as an ally against Hitler (they had signed the Stresa Front with Italy in April 1935). They were not willing to risk war |
| Ineffective sanctions | Key resources (oil) were excluded; the USA did not cooperate; sanctions were too slow |
| No military action | No member was willing to use force against Italy |
| The Hoare-Laval Pact | Proved the League's leading members were acting behind its back |
| Absence of the USA | Without America, sanctions could not be watertight |
Consequences
The Abyssinian Crisis had devastating consequences for international peace:
- The League of Nations was destroyed as a credible peacekeeping body. No one believed it could prevent aggression.
- Mussolini was driven towards Hitler — rather than keeping Italy as a counterweight to Germany. In October 1936, Italy and Germany signed the Rome-Berlin Axis.
- Hitler was emboldened — if the League could not stop Italy, it would not stop Germany. Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland in March 1936 while the world was distracted by Abyssinia.
- Small nations lost faith — Belgium abandoned its alliance with France; several nations began to look to Germany for protection rather than the League.
Key Exam Points
- Compare this crisis with Manchuria — the League failed for similar reasons (self-interest, no USA, no army, slow response).
- The Abyssinian Crisis is often cited as the most important failure of the League — be prepared to argue for or against this.
- Understand the link between the Abyssinian Crisis and Hitler's increasing aggression from 1936 onwards.